Vehicle-spring.



C. L. SCHWARZ.

Patented May 9,1916.

WITNESSES 8 u mun 7 M W W w munnevs elevation of vstill another form of spring STATES PATENT OFFICE.

cmnss LEWIS scswsnz, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' VEHICLE-SPRING.-

Patented May 9,1916.

Application filed April-17, 1913, Serial No. 761,888. Renewed July as, 1914. Serial no. 853,692.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, CnAnLne L. SCHWARZ, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Vehicle-Spring, of which the following is a specification.

Iy invention consists of an improved vehicle spring in which the rebound of the sprin is absorbed to prevent sudden shocks and-t 0 main spring is reinforced.

It further consists of other novel features of construction, all as will'be hereinafter fully set forth. v

. The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detail one mechanical form embodying the invention, such detail construction being but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

.Inf'said annexed drawings-Figure 1 representsa side elevationjof a spring ,embod ing m' invention. Fig. 2 represents a si e elevation of another form of spring embodiing the invention. Fig. 3 represents a si e embodying the invention. Fig. 4 represents aside-elevation showing1 a form of central support 'or bearing whic may be employed.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the figures.

Referring tovthe drawings, the reference numbers 1 indicate supports, such as hangers or brackets secured to the body of the vehicle or chassis of a motor carriage, which hangers or brackets may, however form parts of the vehicle frame. Pairs of links, 2, are pivotally supported upon said brackets, and the ends of a main spring, 3, of the usual so-called elliptic shape and having downwardly curved ends, are pivotally supported u on bolts, 4, between the pairs of links. he axle, 5, for the vehicle-wheels is secured by shackles, 6, and a bar, 7, to said main spring at about the middle of the same. A bar ,or yoke, 8, is secured beneath the mains ring and two pairs of links, 9, are

ivotal yconnected to the ends ofsaid bar. Iihe inner ends of two auxilia I springs, 10, are pivotally connected to the owe'r ends of said pairsof links, and are "pivotally connected at their outer ends to the lin'ks upon the brackets, and shackles, 11, and bars, 12, connect the middles of said sprin and the branches of the main-spring, sue shackles being capable of sliding upon the main spring.

The main spring and the auxiliary springs are preferably leaf-springs, such as are ordinarily employed for vehicle springs,but it is evident that the springs may be formed from one leaf, only, or from as many leaves as the load to be supported requires.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings, the end-links are shown as pivoted at their lower ends to the brackets, the ends of the main spring are shown as pivoted to the middles of the links, and the outer ends of the auxiliary springs are shown as pivoted to the upper ends of the links.

In Fig. 2 of the drawings, the end-links are shown as pivoted at their middles to the brackets, the ends of the main spring are shown as (pivoted to the upper ends of such links, an the outer ends of the auxiliary springs are shown as pivoted to the lower ends of thelinks.

In Fig. 3 of the drawings, the end-links are shown as pivoted at their upper ends to the brackets, the ends of the main spring are shown as pivoted to the middles of the links, and the ends of the auxiliary springs are shown as pivoted to the lower ends of the links.

In the construction shown in Fig. 4, instead of having said suspension links pivotally sus ended from the ends of a bar or yoke rigi 1y secured to the axle, as in the forms of Figs. 1, 2 and 3, said links are suspended from the ends of yokes, 13, which are fulcrumed upon the axle. As illustrated, the axles are cylindrical where the yokcs bear, as at 14, and the yokes are formed with annular bearings, 15, encircling such portions. I

In the different forms of the invention, strain upon the ends of the main spring is partly borne by the auxiliary springs and any rebound from compression strain upon the main spring will be resisted by said auxiliary springs. The shackles connecting the end-portions of the main spring and the middles of the auxiliary springs have longitudinal ,play upon the main spring to admit of. said springs flexing inde endently. The link-connections admit of ree movement of the. springs, but revent lateral movement of the same. Whi e the auxiliary -springs assist in carrying the load upon the resiliency of the latter, asithere is free play between the springs, so that they can flex or yield independently, and the link-supports for said springs admit of such free and ina dependent movement, whereby it will be seen that by reason of the independent'flexing and pla between the springs, surface spring and the auxiliary springs, varies, depending upon the load, thatis to say, as the load increases, it will be apparent that a greater bearing surface exists between the branches of-the main spring and the said auxiliary s rings, b means of which the proper resi iency wi 1 be maintained at the same time the stren th of the structure will be maintained and with a reduction of weight, so that bumping and other objectionable features will be avoided. \Vhen the load decreases, the bearing surface between the springs will be lessened, as will be evident, so that by the structure, the 5 rings will retain the proper resiliency, wiether under a full load or none;

When the auxiliary springs have their inner ends movably su ported'from the ends of movable yokes,'as i lustrated in Fig. 4, it is evident that the strain of either'branch of the main spring will be communicated to the auxiliary spring at that side'and that said spring wil in turn communicate a portion of such strain to the auxiliary s ring on the other side of the axle, throug the pivoted'yokes, which spring,'in its turn, communicates the strain to the other branch of the main spring. strain being thus distributed over the entirespring-structure.

The efl'ect of the connection of the auxiliary s rings with the main'sprin as describe is that the flexure or ben of the main spring under load, as the body approaches the axle, will also flex the auxiliary springs, with the result that the resistance to bend of the auxiliary springs will be added to that of the main spring, and will thus resiliently reinforce the same. In other words, the flattening of the main spring under load, will be accompanied by a relatively increasing resistance to distortion of the auxiliary sprin resulting in a final total resistance of t e entire s ring system in increasing ratio. In the re ound of the body from the axle, the main spring .will be relieved of its tension andits concavity will be increased, while at the same time the auxiliarv springs will also. be released, and as the separation of the parts of the vehicle continues, the'auxiliary springs will become flattened and will thus oppose, in increased ratio,the rebound of the body and-will effectually check it. It is seen therefore that my improved form of spring,'whileinereasing the load bearing capaeityio'f the body, will'prevent objectionable rebound, and this without terfering with'the resiliency of the bearing tween the branches of the mainthe support afforded the body, or impairing the consequent easyriding-qualities of the same.

v While this spring-is principally designed for motor-driven vehicles, in which the recoilior rebound of the springs in passingover obstacles in the road is especially detrimental and obnoxious, it is evident that the spring may be applied to any wheeled vehicle." It is also evident that the brackets,

while here illustrated as detached and capable of being secured to the frame or chassis of the vehicle, may form integral parts of such frame or chassis.

Other modes of applying the principle of mylin'vention may be employed for the mode herein explained. Change may therefore be made as regards the mechanism thus disclosed, provided the rinciples of construction set forth respectively in the following claims are employed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a device of the character stated, supports, links pivotally connected to such supports, a main spring having its ends ivotally connected to said links, an axle 'aving such spring supported upon it, and auxiliary springs pivotally connected at their outer ends to saidlinks and pivotally su ported at their inner ends at about the m ddle of the main vsprin and bearing against the'branches of tie'latter, said branches and auxiliary spring being longitudinally slidably connected.

2. In a device of the character stated, supports, links pivotally connected to such supports, a main spring having its ends pivotally connected to said links, an axle iaving said spring su ported upon it, links pivotally supported f i om said axle, auxiliary springs having their inner ends ivotally connected to said links and heir outer ends pivotally connected to the first named links and having their middles bearing against the branches of the main spring, and shackles slidably connecting said branches and the auxiliary springs.

3. In a device of the character stated, supporting brackets, pairs of links pivotally connected to said brackets, a main spring havm its ends pivoted between said pairs of lin s, an axle having said main spring supported upon it, pairs of links pivotally supported from said axle, auxiliary springs having their inner ends pivotally supported between said pairs of links and their outer ends pivotally supported between the pairs of links on the brackets and having their middles bearing against the branches of the main spring, and shackles slidably connectmg said branches and auxiliary springs.

. In a device of the character stated,

supports, links pivotally connected to such inner ends pivotally sup pivotallyconnected to said supports,

4 otall supports,

ivotally connected to said links, an axle aving said sprin supported upon it, yokes pivoted upon sai axle, links pivotally suspended from the ends of said yokes, auxiliary springs having their inner ends pivotally connected to said links and their outer ends pivotally connected to the first named links and having their middles bearing against the branches of themain spring and shackles slidably connecting sai branches and the auxiliary springs.

5. -Ina device of the character stated, a

V main'spring having its ends inovably supported, and auxiliary springs having their outer ends inovably supported and their orted and'bearing against the branches 0 the main spring, said branches and auxiliary springs being longitudinally slidable.

6. In-a device of the character stated, a main spring having branches, auxiliary springs bearing against'said branches, and means for movably supporting said main sprin and said auxiliary springs in suita le Sidable relation to each other, whereby the bearing surface therebetween, varies, depending upon the load.

7. In a device of the character stated, supports, a main spring having its ends movably carried by said su ports,'an'd-auxiliary springs movably carried at their outer ends by said supports and movably supported at their inner ends and bearing against the branches of the main spring, said branches and auxiliary springs beinglongitudinally slidable; I

8. In a device of the character stated, supports, a main spring having its end(sl an auxiliary springs pivotally connected at their outer ends to said supports and pivsupported at their inner ends and bearing against the branches of the main spring said branches and auxiliary springs being longitudinally slidable.

9. In a device of the character stated, supports, links pivotally connected to said supports, a main spring having its ends ivotally connected to said links, and auxiliary springs pivotally connected at their outer ends to said links and pivotally supported at their inner ends and bearing against the branches of said main spring, said branches and auxiliary springs being longitudinally slidably connected.

10. In a device of the character stated, supports, links pivotally connected to said supports, a maln spring having its ends movably carried by said links, an axle having the main spring supported upon it, a bearing fulcrurned upon the axle, and auxiliary springs movably carried at their outer ends by the first named links and pivotally supported at their inner ends upon the a main spring having its ends bearin said auxiliary springs contacting with'the branches of the main spring, and said branches and auxiliary springs being longitudinall slidable.

' 11. In a (evice of the character stated, supports, links pivotally connected to said supports, a main spring having its ends pivotally connected to said links, an axle having a main spring supported upon it, a yoke fulcrumed upon the axle, links pivotally supported from said yoke, and auxiliary springs pivotally connected at their outer ends to the first named links and pivotally supported at their inner ends upon the last named links and bearing against the branches of the latter, said branches and agixiliary springs being longitudinally slida e.

12. A vehicle spring comprising a curved main leaf spring adapted to be supported by the axle of the vehicle, and an auxiliary leaf spring of opposite curvature to and of less length than the main spring, said auxiliary spring being connected at its inner end with the mam spring between the ends of the latter, and bein connected at its outer end to one end of tiie main spring, said end of the main spring being adapted to be connected with the vehicle body independently of the auxiliary spring.

13. A vehicle spring comprising a main curved leaf spring adapted to be supported by the axle of the vehicle, and an auxiliary leaf spring of op osite curvature to and of lesslength than t e main spring, said auxiliary spring being supported between its ends by the main spring, the inner end of the auxiliary spring being connected with the main spring between the ends of the latter, and the outer end of the auxiliary spring being connected to one end of the main 5 ring, said end of the main spring be ing a apted to be connected with the vehicle body independently of the auxiliary spring.

14. A vehicle spring comprising a main curved leaf spring adapted to be supported by the axle of the vehicle, and an auxiliary leaf spring of opposite curvature to and of less length than the main spring, said auxiliary sprin bein movably supported between its en s by the main s ring, the inner end of the auxiliary spring eing connected with the main spring between the ends of the latter, and the outer end of the auxiliary spring being connected to one end of the main sprin said end of the main sprin bein% adapte to be connected with the ve icle bo y independently of the auxiliary spring.

15. A vehicle spring comprising a curved main leaf spring adapted to be sup orted by theaxle of the vehicle, and an auxi iary leaf spring of opposite curvature to and of less lengt than the main spring, said auxiliary spring being movably connected at its inner end with the main spring between the ends of the'latter, and being movably connected at its outerend to one end of the main spring, said end of the main spring being adapted to be connected with the vehicle body independently of the auxiliary spring.

16. A vehicle spring comprising a curved main leaf spring adapted to be supported by the axle of the vehicle, and an auxiliary leaf sprin" of opposite curvature to and of less lengt than the main spring, said auxiliary sprin being movably supported between its ends y the main spring, the inner end of the auxiliary spring being movably connected'with the mam spring between the ends' of the latter, and the outer end of the auxiliary spring bein movably connected with one end of the mam s ring, said end of the main spring being at apted to be connected with the vehicle body independently of the auxiliary spring.

17. A vehicle spring comprising a curved main leaf 3 ring adapted to be supported by the axle o the vehicle, and two auxiliary leaf springs of opposite curvature to the main spring, the inner ends of said auxiliary springs spring betweenthe ends of the latter, and t e outer ends of the auxiliary springs be ing connected with the .outer ends of the main spring, said ends of the main spring being adapted to be connected with the vehicle body independently of the auxiliary springs.

18.'A vehicle spring curved leaf spring) adapted to be supported between its ends y the axle of the vehicle so as" to constitute in" effect two spring branches, and an auxiliary leaf spring associated with each of the said branches, the inner ends of the auxiliary springs being connected with the inner ends of the branches of the main sprin and the outer ends of the auxiliary sprm 5 being connected with the outer ends 0 the branches of the main spring, said outer ends of the main sprin being adapted to be connected with the ve iicle body independently of the auxiliary springs.

19. A vehicle spring comprising a curved main leaf spring adapted to be sup orted by the axle of the vehicle, and two auxi iary leaf springs of opposite curvature to the main spring, said auxiliary springs being supported between their ends by the main spring, the inner ends of said auxiliary springs being connected with the main Copies of this potent ms, be obtained for being connected with the main comprising a mainspring between the ends of the latter, and

the outer ends of the auxiliary springs being connected with the outer ends of the main spring, said outer ends of the main spring bein adapted to be connected with the vehicle ody independently of the auxiliary springs.

20. A vehicle spring comprising a curved main leaf spring adapted to be supported by the axle of the vehicle, and two auxiliary leaf springs of opposite curvature to the main spring, said auxiliary springs being movably supported between their ends by the main spring, the inner ends of the auxiliary springs being movably connected to the main spring between the ends of the latter, and the outer ends of the auxiliary springs being movably connected with the outer ends of the main siring, said outer ends of the main spring being adapted to be connected with the vehicle body independently of the auxiliary springs.

21. A vehicle spring comprising a main leaf spring adapted to be supported by the axle of the vehicle. and an auxiliary leaf spring of less length than the main suing, a link connecting the inner end of said auxiliary spring with the main spring between the ends of the latter, and a link connecting the outer end of the auxiliary spring with one end of the main spring, said end of the main spring being adapted to be connected with the vehicle body. 22. A vehicle spring comprising a main leaf spring adapted to be supported by the axle of the vehicle, and two auxiliary leaf springs, links connecting the inner ends of said auxiliary springs with the main spring between the ends of the latter, and links connecting the outer ends of the auxiliary springs with the ends of the main spring, said ends of the main spring being adapted to be connected with the vehicle body.

23. A vehicle spring comprising a curved mainieaf spring, and two auxiliary leaf springs of opposite curvature contacting between their ends with the main spring, links connecting the inner ends of the auxiliary springs to the main spring between the ends of the latter, and links connecting the outer ends of the auxiliary springs to the outer ends of the main spring.

CHARLES LEWIS SCHWARZ.

Witnesses:

C. D. MCVAY, WM. Sscmza.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0." 

